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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Miguel Matlock <miguel_matlock2@msn.com>
Reply-To: <miguel_matlock@hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:08:21 +0000
Subject: From Miguel





Hello,

I was attracted with your personality. After going through your profile it gives me more confident that you can be trusted though we haven't meet each other before.

However, I am Mr. Miguel Matlock I work with ING bank (security and deposit department.), Vienna branch, Austria. This is where I discovered this deposit of US$2.5 million unclaimed fund. I want you to help me clear this deposit that have been secretly moved to a security/deposit company overseas, of which I have secured every document for smooth release of the deposit to whomever I appoint as a partner to this position. The deposit involves the sum of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($2.5M). What I require from you is secrecy/ sincerity and commitment for us to achieve this goal.
These are the necessary requirements I need from you:

1. Your full name and address
2. Your Phone/ Fax number/Address,
3. Your Occupation / Age/Status, State/Country.

Other modalities will be discussed as soon as you get back to me on this email address miguel_matlock@hotmail.com. I will highly appreciate your urgent positive response.

Best Regards

Mr. Miguel Matlock



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